Combined cigarette and match package



June 13, 1944. I H. NEIVERT COMBINED CIGARETTE AND MATCH PACKAGE Filed May 25. 1940 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR HARRY NEIVERT BY Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CIGARETTE AND MATCH PACKAGE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to match folders, and more particularly to the combined packaging of cigarettes and matches, particularly for use by the consumer.

It is customary to distribute small folders of paper matches with packages of cigarettes. The expense of the matches is usually covered by advertising thereon. Inasmuch as the matches may be mislaid or lost, it is a convenience to the smoker if the matches are more or less inseparably associated with the cigarettes.

One primary object of my invention is to provide an improved match folder which includes a relatively large space or chamber for the reception of a package of cigarettes. The combined cigarette and match package may be made up by the cigarette manufacturer and distributed as a unit, or if desired, the distribution may be made more nearly as at present, the match folder being made separately, and carrying suitable advertising. The tobacco dealer distributes the match folder in flat condition with each package of cigarettes sold, and the customer thereupon opens the folder and inserts his package of cigarettes therein. The available advertising space on the match folder is greatly increased. The cigarettes are protected by the surrounding folder, and the matches are associated definitely with the cigarette package.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a match folder having a single flap or cover which, when opened, exposes both the cigarettes and the matches, and which, when closed, covers both the cigarettes and the matches. Still another object of my invention is to provide a folder having an open bottom, thereby facilitating insertion of the package of cigarettes through the bottom of the folder, and also facilitating the ejection of individual cigarettes from the package by pushing upwardly on the same at the exposed bottom of the cigarette package.

Still another object is to reduce the thickness of the package. The paper matches are thickest at the heads, and cause a slight bulge of the flap. In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a slot or window is cut through the front wall of the folder at the heads of the matches, thus permitting partial compensation for the thickness of the heads. If desired, the number of rows or layers of matches may be reduced from three to two, thus decreasing the thickness of the package. This may be done without reducing the number of matches, because a cigarette package is wider than a conventional match-book, and the new match folder may be made with two wide rows of matches instead of three narrow rows.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to prevent sideward movement of the flap when the folder is closed. This may be done by prolonging the flap and notching or recessing the same at the staple which holds the striking surface and matches in assembled relation, the

staple being received in the notch and preventing sideward movement of the flap.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the match folder and cigarette package elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawing in which:

. Fig. l is a plan view of one form of myimproved match folder shown in fiat condition;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same loaded with a package of cigarettes, and with the flap open;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but with the flap closed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which a package of cigarettes may be loaded through the open bottom of the match folder; i

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified match, folder; I

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the folder in fiat condition;

Fig.7 is a front elevation of the folder in fiat condition; and

' Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. '7. v

Referring to the drawing, and more particularlyto Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the match folder comprises a single piece of heavy paper or thin cardboard suitably patterned and folded. to form a front wall I2, a back wall l4, side or edge walls l6 and [8, a flap 20, and a striking surface 22. The front, back and side walls are assembled in desired relation, as by means of a flange 24 (see Fig. 2) extending from side wall 18 and cemented to the back wall l4, thus providingan open chamber so dimensioned as to slidably fric-. tionally receive a conventional soft paper package of-cigarettes 26. The bottom of the combendin and crushing, and so minimizes the shaking loose of tobacco from the same. The

top of the cigarette package may. bepartiallyor wholly opened either before or after sliding the package into the match folder. The open bottom 28 is convenient not only for inserting the package of cigarettes, but also to aid the removal of individual cigarettes by pushing upwardly at the soft bottom of the cigarette package.

The striking surface 22 consists of a flange or projection at the bottom edge of the front wall 12, this flange being turned upwardly and stapled to front wall [2 by means of a staple 3i]. Layers of paper matches 32 have their uncut lower ends disposed between striking surface 22 and front wall l2 during the stapling operation, the staple functioning to fasten the matches in position. It will be observed from inspection of the drawing, that a single large flap is provided which, when opened, exposes both the matches and the cigarettes, and which, when closed, covers both the matches and the cigarettes. The end of the flap is inserted between the matches and the striking surface 22, just as is done with the cover of an ordinary match-book.

The matches 32 may be the same as is found in a conventional book of matches. For example, in the present case, there are three rows of matches having a width substantially less than the widthof the cigarette package. The matches are thickest at the heads, thus causing a bulge of the flap 2!] at the heads. In order to reduce this bulge, I prefer to cut a large slot or window 34 through the front wall l2 behind the heads of the matches. This permits the heads to move through the opening and so lessens the bulge of the package, not only to the extent of the thickness of the paper-board used for the match folder, but also because the cigarette package is soft enough to accommodate some indentation of the same by the heads of the matches. The front wall l2 may, if desired, be cut away at 36 for easier access to the cigarette package.

If the match folder is made and distributed separately from the cigarettes, as is the present practice, then the matchv folders may be stacked in fiat condition. The flat condition of the match 40 folder is illustrated in Fig. 1, the side walls l6 and [8 being folded in the same planes as the front and back walls, two diagonally opposite corners being folded acutely, while the other two diagonally opposite. corners are straightened.

possible because the front wall of the folder is as wide as the cigarette package, and this is substantially greater in width than a conventional match-book. Thus any adequate number of matches, is obtained. The two rows are secured to the folder by a staple 56, just as previously described. The symmetrically folded arrangement of Figs. 5 through 8 is particularly desirable when using wider rows of matches, in order not to expose an excessive number of matches, for more will be exposed than is shown in Fig. 1.

The modified folder also differs in that the lower end of flap 44 is extended downwardly at 58 and 60, or expressed differently, the flap is prolonged but notched upwardly at 62. This notch is made large enough to receive the staple 56. When the flap is closed over a package of cigarettes, as is shown in Fig. 5, the extensions 58 and 60 pass below or straddle the staple 56, thereby preventing any sideward movement or displacement of the flap.

It is believed that the construction and method of use, as well as the advantages of my improved n match folder or combined cigarette and match package, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in several preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A match-carrying folder intended for use 'with a package of cigarettes, said folder being made of paper patterned and folded to provide front, back and side walls dimensioned to receive a package of cigarettes, paper matches secured on the outside of the front wall of said folder, the top of said folder being closed by a single flap long enough to extend downwardly over the matches on the front of the folder, said fiap when opened exposing both the matches and the top of the cigarette package, the front wall of said folder being cut away at the heads of the matches to partially receive the same and so reduce the apparent thickness thereof, the cutaway portion being localized at the heads of the matches.

2. A match-carrying folder intended for use with a package of cigarettes, said folder being made up of a single piece of thin cardboard or line 42. When the folder is in flat condition, the A.

side walls fold outwardly, as is best shown in Figs. '7 and 8. In this way the flap 44 maintains a central position, thereby covering the matches instead of exposing a few of the same, as at 46 in Fig. l. The flap 44 is, of course, folded at the point 48 so as to distinguish between the top and This corresponds to the fold 49 in Figs. 1 and 2. i

As before, the cigarette compartment comprises front and back walls as well as the side walls 4!). This is best shown in Fig. 8, in which a like material patterned and folded to provide front, back and side walls, the bottom of said folder being open and dimensioned to slidably frictionally receive a package of cigarettes, the top of said folder being closed by a single flap long enough to extend downwardly over the front .of the folder substantially to the lower edge front of the flap when the package is in use.

thereof, the lower edge being turned upwardly and stapled with the uncut lower ends of paper matches therebetween, the front surface of said upturned lower edge being coated with a suitable striking surface for said matches, said flap when opened exposing both the matches and the top of the cigarette package, the aforesaid front wall of said folder being cut away at the heads of the matches to partially receive the same and so reduce the apparent thickness thereof, the cutaway portion being localized at the heads of the matches.

HARRY NEIVERT. 

